Method and system for producing personal golf lesson video

ABSTRACT

A system and method for producing a personal golf lesson videotape from a visual recording of a person&#39;s golf swing and a partially prerecorded instructional golf lesson videotape. The partially prerecorded golf lesson videotape has gaps in predetermined locations into which are inserted the full motion video of the person&#39;s golf swing and selected still frames. The system contains two cameras for recording a player&#39;s golf swing from the back and side, a computer connected to the cameras for digitally capturing and storing the recorded golf swing, and a computer-controlled video recording device for copying the selected video and still frames of the recorded golf swing into the gaps of the prerecorded videotape golf lesson. The still frames are selected to match the player&#39;s position to the position of the professional golfer in corresponding still frames so that a split screen, side-by-side view can be produced showing the player&#39;s and professional&#39;s positions at various points along a golf swing. Time codes are stored in the predetermined gaps of the prerecorded videotape to help the VCR locate the gaps.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/656,156,filed May 24, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,805.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdisclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patentfiles or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to instructional systems for teachingsports activities by recording a person's performance in the activity.In particular, this invention relates to a system and method forcreating a personalized golf lesson video by recording a player's golfswing and inserting it and selected still frames thereof in variouspredetermined places in a prerecorded golf lesson video featuring aprofessional golfer.

Form and body position are important ingredients to success in manysports activities such as golf, baseball, and track. For example, properpositioning of the head, hands and golf club are crucial to a good golfswing. Naturally, the best way to practice proper positioning is underthe direction of a professional golf instructor who can watch theplayer's swing and correct the player's position and motion. Theplayer's swing can even be video recorded and reviewed later by theplayer and/or the instructor.

Systems have been proposed which record a player's swing and thenanalyze the swing according to precise principles. For example, a systemdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,061 to Nakashima et al. convertsrecorded video images of a player's swing into a plurality of stillimages and superimposes on the still images correction picturesconsisting of a series of lines connecting various points on theplayer's body and club. The resulting pictures are then recorded onto avideotape, and additional visual and/or audio information can then beadded to the videotape.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,410 to Nakayama et al. describes a motiondiagnosis system in which retro-reflective tape is pasted onto aplurality of points on a player's body and golf club, the player's golfswing is recorded, images of the swing are sampled and converted todigital signals, and positional data is extracted from the plurality ofpoints to which the tape was pasted. The positional data is thencompared to reference data to create a diagnosis of the player's swingbased on the difference between the positional and reference data.

As yet a further example, a system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,891,748to Mann captures a video image of a golf student's swing, generates asuperior performance model golf player having physical dimensions scaledto those of the player, and overlays the image of the model onto theimage of the student. The model is computer generated and includescomposite average swing movements of a plurality of golf players,enhanced using statistical identification of the critical performancepatterns of the swing.

These and other proposed systems fail to fully appreciate that, althoughproper positioning is important to a good swing, certain aspects of aplayer's position are more important than others. In fact, highlysuccessful professional golfers have swings which differ in many waysfrom one another but which are similar in the basic fundamental aspectsof a good golf swing. In addition, many aspects of a good swing are notvisually apparent in the swing, such as proper weight distribution,tensioning and stretching of various muscles, and the feel of the swing.These aspects can best be communicated verbally from a professionalgolfer.

Thus, rather than providing a precise geometrical or statisticalanalysis of a player's swing, as accomplished by the systems describedabove, it is preferable to teach students which aspects of swingposition are fundamentally important to a good swing and which aspectsare merely matters of personal style. It is also preferable tocommunicate the non-visual aspects of a swing to students. One way toaccomplish this is for an instructor to explain the basic fundamentalsof a good swing while the student and instructor review the student'svideotaped swing. However, such personalized instruction is expensiveand time consuming, and thus inaccessible to a large portion of thegeneral public.

Thus, a system is needed for providing instruction by a professionalgolfer on the basic fundamentals of a good swing while allowing studentsto view their own swings and compare the fundamentals to their swings.An example of the professional's swing should preferably be shown nextto the student's swing to help students understand the fundamentals.Such a system should provide the professional the opportunity to explainthe non-visual aspects of a swing. The system should be available to amass population of golfers, and should provide the instruction in a formwhich allows students to carefully and repeatedly review the instructionat their own leisure and in the convenience of their own homes usingstandard commercially available video tape players.

The present invention provides such a system and solves these and otherproblems associated with existing golf video systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems describedabove associated with existing golf video systems.

It is another object of the present invention to help golf playersimprove their skills.

It is another object of the present invention to allow golf students toview their golf swing and compare it to a professional's swing whilereceiving instruction from a professional golfer on the basicfundamentals of a golf swing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personalizedgolf instruction video which is relatively inexpensive and which iscompatible with most standard commercially available video tape players.

It is another object of the present invention to automatically edit apartially prerecorded standard video tape by inserting additional fullmotion video or still frames in predetermined locations on the tape.

Some or all of the above and other objects of the present invention areachieved by a system for producing a personal golf lesson videocomprising one or more cameras for recording a person's golf swing,capture and memory means connected to the one or more cameras forcapturing and storing the recorded golf swing, selection means connectedto the capture and memory means for selecting at least one portion ofthe recorded golf swing, a partially prerecorded golf lesson videotapehaving gaps in predetermined locations, and a video cassette recordingdevice for copying the selected at least one portion of the recordedgolf swing into the gaps of the prerecorded videotape golf lesson.

The partially prerecorded videotape contains a golf lesson given by aprofessional golfer or instructor explaining various aspects regardingthe fundamentals ol a good golf swing, including factors such as properpositioning and weight distribution. Time codes are recorded in the gapsin the tape to help the VCR locate the gaps under the control of acomputer.

In preferred embodiments, the capture and memory means comprises acapture board which receives a video stream from the cameras andconverts it to digital images to be stored on a computer readablememory. Alternatively, a videotape recorder can be connected to the oneor more cameras for storing the recorded golf swing on a tape, whichtape may be played later and captured by the capture board.

The selection means preferably comprises a touch screen display fordisplaying the recorded golf swing and for accepting input from a personto select the portion(s) such as still frames, of the golf swing to berecorded onto the partially prerecorded tape. The selected portion(s)are stored in a computer readable memory.

In accordance with the invention, a method for producing a personal golflesson videotape from a visual recording of a person's golf swing and apartially prerecorded golf lesson videotape comprises the steps ofselecting portion(s) of the visual recording to be inserted into theprerecorded golf lesson videotape, locating predetermined gap(s) in thepartially prerecorded golf lesson videotape, and inserting the selectedportion(s) into the predetermined gap(s). The method may furthercomprise visually recording the person's golf swing using one or morecameras connected to a videotape recorder or capture board installed ina computer.

The step of selecting portion(s) of the visual recording may comprisedisplaying all or part of the visual recording on a display connected toa computer system and accepting a selection of the portion(s) through aninput device connected to the computer system. The step of selectingportion(s) of the visual recording may further comprise simultaneouslydisplaying all or part of the visual recording and a preselected stillframe of a professional golfer at a first point in a golf swing andadvancing the visual recording frame by frame so that a still frame fromthe visual recording may be selected in which the person is shown at apoint within the person's swing which substantially matches the firstpoint. These points may include the golf swing set up, the back swing,the down swing, impact, and the follow-through.

Additional content such as video or still frames of the professional'sswing or additional audio information such as verbal instructions fromthe professional may be inserted into the gaps along with the video orstill frames of the recorded golf swing. The professional's and player'svideo or still frames may be placed in a split screen, side-by-sidefashion in the gaps. The pace of the full motion visual recording of theperson's golf swing is preferably adjusted to substantially match thepace of the full motion recording of the professional's golf swing.

Some or all of the objects of the invention are also achieved by amethod for automatically and accurately inserting a video segment into apredetermined gap in a partially prerecorded videotape using a computerand a computer-controllable video cassette recorder (VCR), the VCRoperable in at least a first, unthreaded and a second, threaded mode,the first mode being faster and less accurate than the second mode. Themethod comprises the steps of recording time codes in the gap,retrievably storing in a computer readable memory at least the timecodes recorded at the start of the gap, searching the prerecorded tapefor the beginning of the gap in the first mode based at least on thetime codes recorded in the gap, adjusting the fine accuracy of a framecounter in the VCR, rewinding the prerecorded tape in the second mode toa point just prior to the start of the gap, advancing the prerecordedtape in the second mode to or near the beginning of the gap, andinserting the video segment into the gap.

When a VHS standard VCR is used, which is preferable in order to produceVHS standard tapes usable in most commercially available VCRs, the stepof recording time codes comprises recording the time codes in an audiochannel of the videotape, such as audio 1. If audio information isrecorded in the gap, the time codes may be overwritten.

In preferred embodiments, the method described above begins at the rearof the tape and works backward towards the front in order to completethe process with the tape rewound to the beginning. In addition, becausetime codes in a VCR are usually reset to 0 when the tape is firstinserted into the VCR, time codes are preferably also recorded at therear of the prerecorded tape so that, when the tape is inserted into theVCR, the VCR can search for the time codes recorded at the rear of theprerecorded tape and set the frame counter in the VCR to the time codesfound at the rear of the tape. The VCR can then search for the timecodes in the gap based on their relationship to the time codes at therear of the tape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawingswhich are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which likereferences refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the system of one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the system containing a video section, an inputsection, and an output section;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the kiosk shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4-5 are flow charts showing the processes of setting up andadjusting the video section of the system shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6-7 are flow charts showing the process of recording and capturinga recorded golf swing when the input section of the system of FIG. 1 isunder manual operation;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the process of capturing a player's golfswing when the input section of the system is under automatic operation;

FIGS. 9A-9C are flow charts showing the process of automatically editinga partially prerecorded videotape by inserting selected portions of thecaptured golf swing in gaps in the tape;

FIGS. 10-11 show still frames of the partially prerecorded videotapebefore completion of the automatic editing process of FIGS. 9A-9C; and

FIGS. 12-14 shows still frames of the prerecorded tape after completionof the editing process shown in FIGS. 9A-9C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedherein with reference to the drawings in FIGS. 1-3 showing the systemconfiguration, the flow charts in FIGS. 4-9C showing system operation,and the screen displays in FIGS. 10-12.

The system of one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shownin block diagram form in FIG. 1 and in perspective form in FIGS. 2 and3. In accordance with the invention, the system 10 comprises threesections generally referred to herein as a video section, an inputsection, and an output section. The video section is used to record aplayer's golf swing. The input section digitally captures the recordedswing, processes the captured video, and selects or provides the playerthe opportunity to select various still frames from the captured videofor insertion onto a partially prerecorded golf lesson videotape. Theoutput section automatically and accurately edits the partiallyprerecorded lesson videotape by inserting the captured video and stillframes into predetermined gaps on the tape. The components and operationof each section will be described in turn.

The video section contains two CCD cameras, such as Sony SSC-370cameras, one 12 positioned to record video in the downrange direction ofthe player (or golfer) 8 and the other 14 positioned to record videohead-on of the player 8. As shown in FIG. 2, the cameras 12 and 14 aremounted on a mobile stand or tripod 13 and are positioned behind and tothe side, respectively, of a mat 18 upon which the player 8 stands andperforms a golf swing. A cover 15 may be provided over each of thecameras 12 and 14 to protect it from the climate.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outputs of the two cameras 12and 14 are transmitted to a splitter/merger 16 such as a PanasonicDigital A/V Mixer model WJ-AVE7 which converts the two views receivedfrom the cameras 12 and 14 into a single video stream to be transferredto an input section computer 24. Alternatively, the two video streamsfrom the cameras 12 and 14 can be transmitted over two separate linesinto two separate capture boards (as described below), respectively,installed in the input section computer 24. As a further alternative,the golf swing recorded by the cameras 12 and 14 and converted into asingle video stream by the splitter/merger 16 can be saved on avideotape for use in a computer-controllable video cassette recorder(VCR) (not shown), such as a Panasonic Model AG-5700 VHS VCR, connectedto the input section computer 24 via a RS-232 cable and connector. TheOperating Instructions manual for the Panasonic AG-5700 VCR is herebyincorporated by reference into this application as backgroundinformation regarding the use and operation of the Panasonic VCR. Anumber of swings by different players can be recorded on a singlevideotape, each of which can then be processed later at a separate timeand place.

After the system 10 has begun operation, the player 8 stands on the mat18, places a ball on the tee, and swings a club to hit the ball in theplayer's normal manner. If a system operator is present, the operatorruns the cameras 12 and 14 to film the swing and, when the swing iscompleted, the operator stops the computer capture. If the player is notsatisfied that the digitized swing is representative of his normalswing, the operator repeats the process to digitize another swing usingthe digital capture board 26, such as an Intel Video Recorder captureboard, attached to the input section computer 24. The captured videosignals from the two cameras 12 and 14 are displayed on monitor 36 inreal-time in side-by-side fashion through the use of an overlay board28, such as a board available from Hauppauge Computer Works, Inc.,attached to the computer 24. Many alternative capture and overlay boardsare available for use with the system 10. The captured video is thenavailable for further processing as explained below. If the playerwishes, additional swings may be taken and recorded until a swing istaken which is representative of the player's normal swing.

If no operator is present, the cameras 12 and 14 begin recordingcontinually once system operation has begun. When the player 8 hits theball, a microphone 20 attached to or placed near the mat 18 picks up thesound of the golf ball being hit and transmits a signal to a digital I/Oboard 30 attached to the input section computer 24. Because the entireswing occurs only brief moments prior to and following the hitting ofthe ball, the computer 24 can determine the length of video which mustbe captured from the cameras 12 and 14 in order to receive the entireswing. A save switch 22 is also placed adjacent to the mat 18. If theplayer 8 is satisfied with the swing, he presses the save switch 20 anda signal is transmitted to the computer 24 to capture the most recentlyrecorded swing from the cameras 12 and 14. The recorded video iscaptured through the capture board 26, and the video signals aresimultaneously displayed on a touch screen VGA monitor 36 using theoverlay board 28.

The input section of the system of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention contains a computer 24, which is a standard personal computerhaving a processor, such as an Intel 486 or Pentium model processor,ROM, RAM (preferably at least 16 MB), a hard drive, floppy disk drives,and a CD-ROM player. The computer 24 is operated by the MicrosoftDOS/Windows operating system and includes video for Windows, Windows 95and Windows NT. The capture board 26 and overlay board 28 are attachedto the computer 24 to capture and process digital images of the recordedvideo of a player's golf swing and to display the images on a monitor.

When the input section is to be used without an operator, a digital I/Oboard 30 is also attached to the computer 24 to process signals receivedfrom the microphone 20, and a conventional sound board 32 and speaker(s)34 are provided to provide audio instructions to the player on theoperation of the system 10.

A touch screen 36, such as touch screens available from MicroTouch, isconnected to the input section computer 24 for displaying promotionaland instructional materials regarding the system 10 and for acceptinginput from the player 8. Alternative input devices, such as a keyboard,mouse, or electronic stylus, may be used with a conventional monitor. Acredit card reader/processor 34 is connected to the computer 24 toreceive credit card payments for use of the system 10. The system 10 maybe wired in a conventional manner to connect via modem andtelecommunications link to a credit card company to receiveauthorization for use of a player's credit card.

The output section of the system 10 contains an output section computer40, which is a standard personal computer configuration including aprocessor, ROM, RAM, hard and floppy disk drives, input device(s),monitor, network board, DOS/Windows operating system, a sound board 42,and an overlay board connected to the computer 40. The use of twoseparate computers 24 and 40 for the input and output sections providesthe capability to capture and process a number of recorded golf swingsusing the input computer 24 while simultaneously editing a partiallyprerecorded videotape using the output computer 40.

A scan converter 44, such as an Extron Super Emotia converter, isattached to the computer 40 to convert standard VGA signals into NTSCstandard video signals. The output section computer 40 is connected viaRS-232 connector and cable 48 to a computer controllable VCR 50, such asa Sanyo GVR-S950 or GVR-S955 Video Cassette Recorder. The ComputerControl Reference Section of the Instruction Manual for the SanyoGVR-S950 and -S955 model VCR is hereby incorporated by reference intothis application as background information regarding the use andoperation of the Sanyo VCR. A partially prerecorded golf lesson video 56is inserted into the VCR for editing according to the proceduresdescribed below. The VCR 50 is connected to a television set 52 to allowthe player 8 to watch his recorded swing and the video 56.

The input and output section computers 24 and 40 are connected over anetwork for transfer of data therebetween. The network may also beaccessed remotely via telecommunications link and modem. As shown inFIG. 3, the input and output sections of the system 10 may be containedin a kiosk 60, which may be stationary as shown or which be place onwheels so as to be transportable for use in multiple golf courses.

The partially prerecorded golf lesson video 56 contains a lesson on thefundamentals of a good golf swing given by a professional golfer. Theprofessional explains the basic techniques, including proper bodyposition, weight distribution, the extent to which certain musclesshould be tensioned or stretched, where a player should be looking, andthe general "feel" of a good swing. As shown in FIG. 10, fundamentalsmay be listed in checklist form on the screen. The professional helps toillustrate the fundamentals with an example swing, which is shown infull motion video as well as in still frames. Telestrations are added tothe video and still frames of the professional's swing to further assistthe student in understanding the fundamentals.

The partially prerecorded lesson video 56 contains short gaps inpredetermined places. In accordance with the invention, the player'sfull motion swing or still frames are inserted into the gaps so that, inthe final edited version of the lesson video, the player can observe hisswing or position while the professional is explaining the fundamentals.As shown in FIG. 11, time codes (shown in SMPTE Time Code format ofhours:minutes:seconds:frames) are recorded in the gaps to help theoutput section locate them and automatically and accurately insert thedesired video segments therein.

The professional's swing can be inserted in a side-by-side relationshipwith the player's swing, and still frames of the professional's swing atvarious positions, such as the set up, the back swing, the down swing,the follow-through, etc., can be inserted in a side-by-side relationshipwith still frames of the player's swing shown in the correspondingposition. See FIG. 12, representing a screen shown in the final, editedversion of the personalized golf lesson videotape in which a still frameof the professional 70 is shown side-by-side with the player 8.Additional audio information, such is the professional's verbalexplanations, can also be inserted in the gap. Also, telestrationeffects may be added, as shown by the lines 74 in FIG. 12, to furtherassist in teaching the fundamentals regarding proper positioning.

When a Beta cam standard VCR is used, the time codes are placed on thetape for each frame in addition to video and audio data. However, VHSstandard VCRs do not provide additional room for storing time codes intape locations outside of the video or audio tracks. Since most peopleuse VHS VCRs, it is necessary for the system 10 to have the capabilityof producing tapes in VHS format. Thus, in accordance with theinvention, time codes are stored on one of the audio tracks, e.g.,audio 1. When the video and audio segments are inserted into the gap,the time codes may be overwritten.

The process of setting up and using the system 10 and the operation ofthe system 10 is now described with reference to the flow charts inFIGS. 4-9C. Initially, to set up the video section, FIG. 4, the desireddistance between the cameras 12 and 14 and the mat 18 and player 8 mustbe determined, step 90, such that players within a given height rangewill fit within the view of the cameras. The desired lenses areselected, step 92, to obtain the proper focus, and the height anddirection of the cameras 12 and 14 are set up, step 94. When used, thesplitter/merger 16 is set up, step 96. Also, the microphone trigger 20and save switch 22 are positioned when used. Finally, the input computer24 checks that an incoming video stream places the player or golfer 8 inthe desired placement within the screen, step 98.

After the cameras are initially set up, a model golfer stands on the mat18 and a video stream of the model golfer is captured, step 100 (FIG.5). The captured sample video is then cropped, sized and positioned,step 102, so that the size and location of the golfer within a splitscreen, which will ultimately be copied onto the prerecorded videotape56, generally matches the size and position of the professional golferin previously recorded video. If necessary, the cameras 12 and/or 14 aremoved and new video is captured until the incoming video can be properlycropped and sized to match the professional's video. Allowances are madeduring this procedure for reasonable height variations among golfers.The locations of the golf ball and target positions on the golfer arethen identified in the sample captured video, step 104, for future useby the output section to place telestrations, as described herein. Allthe parameters involved in cropping, sizing, positioning and identifyingobjects within the sample captured video are then saved for use by theoutput section, step 106. As a result, incoming video of future golferscan be automatically adjusted to so as to fit properly within the splitscreen, side-by-side view with the professional golfer. See FIG. 12 foran example of such a split screen view.

With reference to FIG. 6, when an operator is involved in capturing agolfer's swing, and when a VCR is used to tape the golfer's swing,rather than transmitting the video stream directly to the input sectioncomputer 24, the VCR is operated in the usual manner, i.e., by placing ablank tape in the VCR, step 110, setting the VCR to RECORD mode, step112, recording the golfer's swing, step 114, and stopping the VCR afterthe golfer 8 has finished the swing, step 116.

With reference to FIG. 7, to digitally capture the recording of thegolfer's swing, the tape of the golfer 8 from the video section isplayed, step 120, and the video recording is positioned to the start ofthe golfer's swing and paused, step 122. The two views of the golfer 8,the back or downtarget view obtained from camera 12 and the front orhead-on view obtained from camera 12, are displayed in split screenformat. The incoming video is then adjusted for factors such asbrightness, contrast, and tint, step 124. The VCR is then returned toplaying the tape and the recording is captured to disk by the captureboard 26 at 30 frames per second at a resolution of 320×240, step 126.The operator stops the capture process at the end of the swing.

The front and back views of the golfer's swing are then adjusted, step128, by slowing down or speeding up the swing based on the number offrames contained in the digitally captured golfer's swing as compared tothe number of frames in the previously captured recording of theprofessional's swing. Next, the operator advances frame by frame throughthe video recording of the golfer's swing and selects a number of stillframes in which the golfer's position substantially matches the positionof the professional in a corresponding still frame, step 130. Inpreferred embodiments of the invention, eight still frames are selected,including the set up, half back swing, back swing, down swing, impact,and follow-through. The still frames are captured as 640×480 resolutionpictures. The two views (front and back) for each still frame are splitapart and saved separately.

After capturing the still frames, the operator selects, through thetouch screen 36 or other suitable input device, one or more locations oneach still frame at or around which telestrations are to be placed, step132. The telestrations are placed on the frames by the output section ofthe system 10 during the automatic editing process. For example, in thestill frame for the golf swing set up, the operator touches the locationof the golfer's head, around which a circle is later telestrated andfrom which a line is telestrated downwardly towards the mat 18. Thistelestration helps illustrate the proper positioning of the head inrelation to the tee during the set up. See FIG. 12 for an example oftelestrations 74 appearing in the final edited version of the personalgolf lesson videotape.

The captured full motion video, still frames and other golfer data suchas selected telestration locations are placed in a queue for transfer tothe output section computer 40, step 134. If a personal golf lessonvideo is to produced, and the golfer data is to be sent, step 136, thedata is transferred to the output section of the system 10, step 138.

Referring now to FIG. 8, when no operator is present, the system 10 isprogrammed to display a promotional video on the touch screen display36, step 150, and to play instructions upon request, step 152. If aperson desires to use the system, he enters his credit card informationinto the credit card reader 38. The credit card information is read andprocessed, step 154, and the specific instructions on how to set up thetee to take a golf swing are played on the display 36, step 156.

The system 10 then begins a loop, 158, in which the golfer's swing isautomatically captured. If no input is received for five minutes, step160, the system offers the option of replaying the instructions orrestarting the auto-capture loop, step 162. If an additional two minutesof inactivity occurs, step 164, the system times-out completely andreturns to the promotional video.

If the microphone 20 registers the sound of the ball being hit, step166, and the golfer 8 presses the save switch 22, step 168, the swing iscaptured and saved by the input section computer 24 and capture board26. The swing is then synchronized in pace to the professional's swingas explained above, step 170, the golfer selects the various stillframes and locates the position of his head in the still frames for theplacement of telestration as explained above, step 172. Theprofessional's still frames can be sequentially displayed in splitscreen format with the golfer's swing, much as shown in FIG. 12, tofacilitate the golfer's selection of the appropriate still frames. Thepartially prerecorded golf lesson videotape 56, which is provided to thegolfer 8 after receiving credit card payment, is then inserted in theVCR 50, step 174.

Referring to the flow chart in FIGS. 9A-9C, the output section of thesystem 10 automatically and precisely edits the partially prerecordedvideotape 56 by inserting the captured video and still frames therein asfollows. After initializing variables, step 200, including the locationat which the output section computer 40 will find files transferred overthe network from the input section computer 24, the output sectioncomputer 40 periodically polls for golfer data received from the inputsection computer 24, step 202, including full motion video and stillframes and control parameters saved during initial set up and adjustmentas described above. When golfer data is available, the output sectioncomputer 40 checks whether a tape has been inserted in the VCR 50 step204, and then checks whether the tape is at the rear, step 206. If thetape 56 is not at the rear, it can be fast forwarded until the rear isreached, step 208.

Although the process of locating gaps and inserting the video and stillframes can be accomplished by starting from other points on the tape 56,including the beginning thereof, starting from the rear of the tape 56and moving backwards is preferable in that it provides the advantagethat, when the process is completed, the tape is rewound to thebeginning and ready to be viewed without further rewinding.

When a tape is inserted into the VCR 50, the VCR's time codes areusually reset to 0. Time codes are therefore preferably placed at therear of the tape 56 so that the VCR can find them and the VCR's framecounter will automatically be set to the time codes on the tape. Thus,the VCR searches for time codes placed at the rear of or anywhere on thetape, step 210. If no time codes are found anywhere on the tape, step212, an error message is given, step 214, such as a message instructingthe user to insert an appropriate tape.

When the time codes at the rear of the tape 56 are found, the VCR 50 isplaced in unthreaded mode, which is faster and less accurate thanthreaded mode, and rewound while the computer 40 searches for the timecodes in the immediately preceding gap, step 216 (FIG. 9B). Because thelocations of the time codes are predetermined after the prerecorded tapeis produced, the computer 40 is given data indicating the specificframes to search for and the expected locations of the gap. Because thesearch is conducted in unthreaded mode, the search will be faster butwill lose fine accuracy. The search will therefore only get close to thecorrect point on the tape, i.e., the start of the gap. In preferredembodiments, the search rewinds the tape to a short period immediatelypreceding the gap.

While a gap is being located, gap pre-processing is done, step 218,including loading the audio to be inserted into the gap into RAM anddisplaying the initial video frame to be inserted into the gap on the TV52 using the scan converter 44. Once a gap is located, step 220, and thetape 56 is rewound to just prior to the gap, the VCR is adjusted toframe accuracy, step 222, by placing it in play mode and playing overthe time codes at the front of the gap. While in play mode, the computer40 polls the VCR to determine the frame position and resets frameaccuracy which was lost during the unthreaded search. After fameaccuracy has been restored, the VCR 50 is paused.

The VCR 50 is placed in threaded mode and a fine accuracy search isconducted to a short period just prior to the start of the gap, step224. Locating the tape 56 just prior to the gap helps to ensure that theVCR tape motors achieve normal operational speed and that any tapejitters is calmed prior to actually inserting new video and audio in thegap. The VCR 50 is once again placed in play mode, step 226, duringwhich the computer 40 polls the VCR 50 to determine frame position, step228 (FIG. 9C), and checks for the start of the gap, step 230, at whichpoint the VCR will be placed in insert or cut-in/cut-out mode, step 232.

From the time the computer 40 transmits an instruction to the VCR 50 tochange from play mode to insert mode until the VCR 50 actually changesits mode, about six frames advance on the tape 56. Therefore, in thepreferred embodiments of the invention, the instruction to change modesis actually issued by the computer about six frames prior to the actualstart of the gap. The VCR 50 is given the precise cut-out point andinstructed to begin inserting the video and audio segments until thatpoint. If the audio segment covers both audio channels (audio 1 andaudio 2), the time codes are overwritten.

During video and audio insertion, an action timer in the computer 40starts, step 234, and controls the video being inserted. When an actionpoint is reached, step 236, i.e., when an action must be taken, theaction is performed, 238. Actions include loading pictures, playingvideo clips, or drawing telestrations, and the actions are performed byretrieving the pictures, video clips or telestrations from memory andtransferring them to the video output of the computer 40. When the endof the gap is reached, step 240, the VCR is paused, step 242, while thecomputer 40 checks whether there are any more gaps expected on the tape56, step 244. If any more gaps are expected, the computer 40 returns theVCR to unthreaded mode to search for the immediately preceding gap, step216 and repeats the editing process until all gaps have been filled. TheVCR then ejects the completely edited tape 56.

FIGS. 10-14 show still frames recorded on the tape 56. FIG. 10illustrates a screen in which the professional 70 is explainingfundamentals about one aspect of a golf swing, and a checklist isprovided to assist the explanation. The frame shown in FIG. 11,displaying time codes in a gap, appears on the partially prerecordedtape before the automatic editing process is completed. The frames shownin FIG. 12 represent split screen, side-by-side still frames of theplayer golfer 8 and the professional golfer 70 shown in head-on view inthe follow-through, back swing and down swing positions, withtelestrations 74 (FIGS. 12 and 14) to help illustrate proper positioningor directions.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will beevident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention as set forth inthe appended claims is thus not to be limited to the precise details ofmethodology or construction set forth above as such variations andmodification are intended to be included within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A personal sports activity lesson videotapecomprising:a partially prerecorded lesson segment about the sportsactivity; and at least one gap, the at least one gap being locatedbetween a beginning and an end of the videotape; wherein the at leastone gap is adapted to receive a performance segment, the performancesegment including at least a selected portion of a visual recording of aperson's performance of a sports activity.
 2. The videotape of claim 1,wherein the performance segment is inserted into the at least one gap.3. The videotape of claim 2, wherein the performance segment fills theat least one gap.
 4. The videotape of claim 1, wherein the performancesegment includes at least one still frame image of the visual recording.5. The videotape of claim 1, wherein the performance segment includes atleast a selected portion of a visual recording of a further person'sperformance of the sports activity.
 6. The videotape of claim 5, whereinthe visual recording of the person's performance of the sports activityhas a first pace and the visual recording of the further person'sperformance of the sports activity has a second pace, wherein the firstpace is adjusted to substantially match the second pace.
 7. Thevideotape of claim 5, wherein the performance segment includes at leastone further still frame image of the visual recording of the furtherperson's performance of the sports activity.
 8. The videotape of claim7, wherein the still frame image and the further still frame image showthe person and the further person at similar points in the performanceof the sports activity.
 9. The videotape of claim 1, wherein theperformance segment includes audio information.
 10. The videotape ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one gap includes a gap start and a gapend, the gap start being preceded by content prerecorded on thevideotape and the gap end being followed by content prerecorded on thevideotape.
 11. The videotape of claim 1 comprising at least one timecode, the at least one time code being recorded in the at least one gap.12. The videotape of claim 11 comprising an audio channel, wherein theat least one time code is recorded in the audio channel.
 13. Thevideotape of claim 11 comprising a rear portion, wherein the rearportion follows an end of content prerecorded on the videotape andwherein the at least one time code is recorded in the rear portion. 14.A personal sports activity lesson videotape produced from a visualrecording of a person's performance of a sports activity and aprerecorded lesson about the sports activity, wherein the videotape isproduced by:partially prerecording onto a videotape a lesson about thesports activity with at least one gap not being at the begining or endof the partially prerecorded videotape; visually recording a person'sperformance of a sports activity; selecting at least one portion of thevisual recording for recording onto the prerecorded lesson videotape;locating one or more predetermined gaps in the partially prerecordedlesson videotape; and inserting the selected at least one portion of thevisual recording into the one or more predetermined gaps.